Cheesecake Factory (The)
Last inspected: Aug 1, 2025
95
Score
The health department has logged 12 inspections at Cheesecake Factory (The), the earliest from 2022. The latest inspection on file is from Aug 1, 2025. When a facility lands in the low risk tier, it usually means nothing alarming showed up at the most recent visit.
Recent visits have produced comparable findings, with counts hovering near six violations per visit.
“Wet wiping cloth not stored” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing six times across the record.
The city-wide average for Tampa sits at 79, putting Cheesecake Factory (The) on the better side of that line. There isn't much in the file that would give a customer pause.
12
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
1
Minor latest
Inspection History
Aug 1, 2025
Complaint Full
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Large reach-in cooler by ice machine. **Repeat Violation** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-08-01: **Time Extended**
29-49-6
95
Jul 31, 2025
Complaint Full
2 critical violations. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Large reach-in cooler in the middle of the cook line - Cold Holding: cooked potato 50 F, tomato salsa 51 F, corn dog 50 F, coleslaw 51 F. Operator moved all time/temperature control for safety food to walk-in freezer for rapid cool. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Live, small flying insects found 1 live fly in dry food storage area. **Warning**
35A-02-7
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
22-20-5
Basic - In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored with handle above top of food within a closed container. In Panko bin. Operator removed scoop at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
10-01-5
Basic - Sanitizer bucket stored with food, equipment, utensils, linens, single-service, or single-use articles. Sanitizer buckets stored on counter top next to single service items and butter cups at expo line. Operator relocated buckets to proper storage area. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
21-44-1
Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Large reach-in cooler by ice machine. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
29-49-6
61
Jul 21, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 5 minor violations.
View 8 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. A few pieces of sliced butter (45-46F - Cold Holding) stored in reach-in cooler at expo line. A piece of raw steak 45 F stored in drawer cooler at cook line.
03A-02-5
High Priority - Employee handled soiled equipment or utensils and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee handled soiled dishes, then picked up cleaned dishes from dish machine without washing hands first. Discussed proper handwashing techniques with operator, operator educated employee at time of inspection. **Corrective Action Taken**
12A-13-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Trash can and utility cart with soiled plates stored in front of handwash sink at dish machine area. Operator removed items from handwash sink. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-09-4
Basic - Sanitizer bucket stored with food, equipment, utensils, linens, single-service, or single-use articles. Operator removed sanitizer bucket from counter tops. **Corrected On-Site**
21-44-1
Basic - Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. In reach-in cooler stored with raw salmon and raw calamari next to dish machine room.
29-49-6
Basic - Wiping cloth Ecolab Sink and Surface Cleaner compound sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. Tested 100ppm, less than minimum strength per Ecolab test strip provided by operator. Operator remade sanitizer, tested 700ppm. **Corrected On-Site**
21-08-4
Basic - Wiping cloth sanitizing solution stored on the floor. Operator moved to shelf. Discussed double buckets method with operator. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
21-38-4
Basic - Presetting of unwrapped silverware and/or tableware outdoors. Plates/saucers not protected on outdoor tables.
24-01-4
52
Jan 6, 2025
Complaint Full
2 critical violations. 7 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Employee touched soiled apron/clothes and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee rubbed hands on pants and continued to Cook and prepare food Inspector explained proper hand washing to manager
12A-28-4
High Priority - Shell eggs in use or stored with cracks or broken shells. See stop sale. 1 shelled egg cracked in walk in cooler Observed employee discard
01B-14-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink on prep table on service line Employee removed **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
Basic - Employee with no beard guard/restraint while engaging in food preparation. Employee preparing food with no beard guard Employee placed beard guard on face **Corrected On-Site**
13-04-4
Basic - Floor soiled/has accumulation of debris. Floor soiled with old food debris in back prep kitchen Employee swept floor **Corrected On-Site**
36-73-4
Basic - Food not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor. 6 boxes of tea on floor in dry storage room Employee placed on shelf **Corrected On-Site**
08B-47-4
Basic - Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. Cracked plastic container lid in use in walk in cooler
14-38-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. Stored on prep table on cookline Employee removed and placed in sanitizer bucket **Corrected On-Site**
21-12-4
Basic - Wiping cloth sanitizing solution stored on the floor. Stored on floor on cookline Employee placed on shelf **Corrected On-Site**
21-38-4
52
Aug 8, 2024
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Aug 7, 2024
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 6 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Sewage/wastewater backing up through floor drains. Observed waste water backing up at two draining in dish pit and under ice machine. Observed waste water backing up at 2 drains on cookline. Observed employees walking through waste water throughout kitchen and walking into lobby. Plumber is currently onsite working on drains and fixed drains at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Admin Complaint**
28-26-5
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Observe garlic (51 - Cold Holding) and raw chicken (47 - Cold Holding) on cookline reachin cooler **Warning**
01B-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed cooked chicken (47 - Cold Holding) on cookline, raw chicken (47 - Cold Holding) , garlic (51 - Cold Holding) Observed employee place on ice **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
03A-02-5
High Priority - unwashed produce food stored over or with ready to eat mustard in walk-in cooler Corrected observed employee remove mustard **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
08A-04-5
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Observed employee drink stored on prep table Corrected observed employee remove **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
12B-07-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Observed employee phone stored on prep table on service line Corrected -observed employee remove **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
40-06-5
Basic - Employee with no beard guard/restraint while engaging in food preparation. Observed employee with no beard guard making food on cookline **Warning**
13-04-4
Basic - Food storage container/container lid cracked or broken. Observed cracked plastic containers **Warning**
14-38-4
Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed rice scoop stored in water temped at 85 F Observed employee discard water **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
10-07-4
Basic - Objectionable odors in bathroom or other areas of the establishment Objectionable odor on service line under soda machine **Warning**
36-64-5
41
Jan 11, 2024
Complaint Full
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. Can of coconut milk dented. Can of chopped clams dented. **Repeat Violation**
01B-01-4
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Meatloaf cooked and held longer then 24 hours has no date markings. Chef added proper date markings to meatloaf. **Corrected On-Site**
02C-02-5
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses.
21-12-4
Basic - Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin. Interior of ice machine has buildup of black-mold like substance.
22-20-5
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. Tongs hanging on handle of grill on cooks line. Chef removed tongs and placed at dishwasher. **Corrected On-Site**
10-20-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. No hand washing sign at hand washing sink in server station next to bar. Manager added hand washing sign to sink. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
31B-04-4
64
Sep 20, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 3 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Employees changing gloves with no hand washing, corrected action , inspector discussed with management proper hand washing procedures when changing gloves. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
12A-07-5
High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. One can of hunts tomato sauce, 6 lb can with dent of side of can. **Repeat Violation**
01B-01-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Spatula stored in middle employee hand wash sink , corrected, manager removed spatula at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
31A-09-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. No paper towels at employee hand wash sink on cooks line, middle sink, corrected , manager replaced paper towels at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Cut fruits , cooked wings , cut vegetables, all held over 24 hrs not date marked. **Repeat Violation**
02C-02-5
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drinks stored on food prep tables, corrected, employees removed drinks during inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
12B-07-4
Basic - In-use utensil used with moist food stored in running water with insufficient velocity to flush food particles away. Dipper well at drip at cheese cake area, corrected , employee turned water during inspection. **Corrected On-Site**
10-03-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. No employee must wash hand sign at employee hand wash sink on cooks line .
31B-04-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. **Repeat Violation**
21-12-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Bulk containers not labeled in dry storage area. **Repeat Violation**
02D-01-5
43
May 11, 2023
Complaint Full
1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Opened containers of milk not date marked in walk in cooler . Corrected manager date marked milks during inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-05-11: **Time Extended**
02C-02-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Old food stuck to clean dishware/utensils. Observed old food debris on clean pans at time of inspection, corrected, manager had pans re-washed at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-05-11: **Time Extended**
16-48-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. **Repeat Violation** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-05-11: **Time Extended**
21-12-4
82
May 9, 2023
Complaint Full
5 critical violations. 2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 10 violations
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Observed serval employee replacing glove with no hand washing. Inspector discussed with manager proper hand washing when changing gloves . **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
12A-07-5
High Priority - Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands - food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145 degrees F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. Observed cook on cooks line chopped cilantro with bare hands , corrected action taken management discussed with cook proper glove use policy at Cheesecake Factory. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
09-01-4
High Priority - Food contaminated by employees/consumers and operator continued to serve food. See stop sale. Manager opted to discard cilantro chopped by employee. **Warning**
01B-12-4
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. Calabrian Peppers in oil 76°, manufacturers states once opened must be kept refrigerated. **Warning**
01B-02-5
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Dry storage area , two containers of Calabrian Chili Peppers 71°, container from manufacturer states once opened must be refrigerated. See stop sale **Warning**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared onsite and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked. Opened containers of milk not date marked in walk in cooler . Corrected manager date marked milks during inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
02C-02-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Employee hand wash sink on cooks line blocked by pans , corrected, manager removed pans during inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
31A-09-4
Basic - Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Observed employee cooking foods from home with food from establishment. **Warning**
08B-49-4
Basic - Old food stuck to clean dishware/utensils. Observed old food debris on clean pans at time of inspection, corrected, manager had pans re-washed at time of inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
16-48-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
21-12-4
33
Mar 8, 2023
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 3 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 9 violations
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. Observed employees changing gloves on cooks ,one with no hand washing between usage. Corrected action taken , inspector discussed with management proper hand washing procedures. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
12A-07-5
High Priority - Dented/rusted cans present. See stop sale. One of Jalapeño slices , with multiple dents. 5 Lb
01B-01-4
Intermediate - Commercially processed ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked after opening. Milk at cheesecake cooler not date marked , corrected, employee date marked milk during inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
02C-03-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Metal shakers stored in employee hand wash sink on cooks line . **Repeat Violation**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. Employee hand wash sink on cooks line with no soap .
31B-03-4
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Employee drink stored on food contact table at front kitchen area , corrected, manager , removed drink during inspection. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
12B-07-4
Basic - Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Employee foods stored in beer cooler unidentified and not separated.
08B-49-4
Basic - Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. **Repeat Violation**
21-12-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Containers of peanuts not labeled in dry storage area.
02D-01-5
45
Oct 11, 2022
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 4 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 11 violations
Supervisor/Person in Charge Present
FL-01
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Potentially Hazardous Food Held at Proper Temperature
FL-16
Proper Hot and Cold Holding Temperatures
FL-21
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Warewashing Facilities Maintained and Used
FL-24
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
37
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Cheesecake Factory (The) last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Cheesecake Factory (The) on file is from Aug 1, 2025. The public record contains 12 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Cheesecake Factory (The)?
Across the inspection record, “wet wiping cloth not stored” has been cited six times, more than any other issue at Cheesecake Factory (The).
How does Cheesecake Factory (The) compare to other restaurants in Tampa?
Cheesecake Factory (The) most recently scored 95 out of 100, which is higher than the Tampa average of 79.
Has Cheesecake Factory (The)'s inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Cheesecake Factory (The) have averaged around six violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Cheesecake Factory (The) means inspectors found minimal or no significant issues at the most recent visit. Most facilities at this tier have a clean recent inspection report.
How often is Cheesecake Factory (The) inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Cheesecake Factory (The) is inspected around four times per year on average.
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